we

Teenage heartache is a specific kind of agony, and gnash is in deep. On his debut album, Los Angeles singer/rapper Garrett Nash wears his broken heart on his sleeve, pleading with his ex to take him back via tuneful confessionals. To listen is to be transported back to your gnarliest breakup—a tug-of-war of poor mes (“the broken hearts club”) and empty FUs (“nobody’s home”). Despite their dark subject matter, these songs are quite pleasant to listen to, shaped by pop melodies that bob along like nursery rhymes (“happy never after”). It’s refreshing to hear a young male artist be so open about his feelings; on “insane,” he details an emotional spiral that sent him seeking help: “I’ve been spending all this time pretending I’m OK,” he sings. “Well, I’m not OK.” Hang in there—you will be.